Keeper mechanism



E K R u B o. w

KEEPER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 26, 1950 v INVENTOR. ff' L /w/"kf/ Aug 33, i954 w. o. BURK 2,687,911

KEEPER MECHANISM Filed Aug. 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 31, 1954 KEEPER MECHANISM William O. Burke, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Na.- tional Lock Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application August 26, 1950, Serial No. 181,676

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a lock or latch assembly and more particularly to a novel latch mechanism for a. refrigeratorr or other cabinet structure in which the latch members are generally mounted upon the exterior and adjacent edges of the door and cabinet and latching is eiected across the parting line between the door and cabinet.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel latch mechanism so constructed and arranged that the component parts may be quickly and easily applied to the cabinet and door or closure without the necessity of critical alignment and precision setting of the parts as required in prior constructions.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel edge-mounted latch mechanism requiring a minimum of eifort on the part of the person applying the parts to the door or closure and to the cabinet for the reason that these parts are pre-assembled in their respective housings and the proper setting of the latch members or strike hook is made at the factory and maintained, thus requiring no setting of this latch member or strike hook upon assembly.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel latch assembly in which the latch member or strike hook is carried on the door or closure and thereby eliminating from the cabinet any exposed and projecting parts.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel construction and arrangement of latch mechanism including a floating latch member or strike hook carried by the mounting or housing on the door or closure and a pair of spaced rollers carried by the mounting or housing on the cabinet with one roller held or maintained against lateral movement and the other carried upon the outer end of a pivotal bolt arm, whereby the first mentioned or xed roller engages or seats in the throat of the latch member or strike hook and the other roller engages the rear or lower edge of the latch member or strike hook and forces the latter up into locking position, the angle of the hook at its rear or lower edge being such as to retain it in locked position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of Another important feature of the present invention is the provision in a refrigerator lock or latch construction of a novel combination, arrangement and assembly of a latch member or strike hook and a pair of spaced rollers one of which is pivotally mounted upon a bolt arm, said rollers being adapted to receive the latching end of the hook therebetween and so spaced apart and assembled that when in cocked position the spacing between the rollers is somewhat less than the width of the latching end of the hook whereby when the latter is forced between the rollers it will cause spreading of these rollers and pivotal movement of the bolt arm and its roller whereby to permit the trigger or cocking lever to be engaged and kicked off its pin or stud.

The present invention further comprehends 'the provision of a novel lock assembly for a refrigerator or other cabinet of the type in which the space between the door or closure and the cabinet is sealed by a gasket, the novel lock assembly being so designed and constructed as to develop a gasket pressure substantially greater than possible with other available types of locks.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, eiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention 'further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary View in perspective of a refrigerator cabinet with the novel lock or latch mechanism applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in horizontal crosssection takenin a plane represented by the line 2--2 of Fig. l, and showing the position of the latching mechanism when the door is closed.

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical cross-section taken in a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View in vertical cross-section taken in a plane represented by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.k

Fig. 5 is a viewin vertical cross-section taken in a plane represented by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a View in side elevation of the lock or latch assembly and showing the closure or door in a closing position with the latch mem- 3 ber or strike hook entering the nousing and ready to push the roller and the pilvotally mounted bolt arm carrying this roller back or laterally whereby to permit the latch member or strike hook to enter the space between the rollers, the covers of the housings on the cabinet and door or closure enclosing the latch mechanism being removed for more complete disclosure.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing `the closure or door in the position in which the latch member or strike hook has entered between the two rollers and is engaging the cooking lever to push it inwardly after pressure has been removed therefrom by engagement with the roller upon the pivotally mounted bolt arm and thereby pushing back or depressing the bolt arm.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7 but showing the position of the locking or latching assembly when the closure or door is completely closed.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings and the novel embodiment therein selected as illustrative of the present invention, the novel lock or latch mechanism or assembly is shown as mounted upon the exterior and at one end of a refrigerator cabinet Il having the usual refrigerating compartments and a closure or door I2 hinged or pivotally mounted along the vertical edge I3. A gasket I4 of resilient rubber or rubber-like material attached to the inner face I5 of the door seals about the opening in the cabinet when the door or closure is in closed position.

The novel lock or latch mechanism comprises a two-part assembly, a latch retaining means or keeper assembly in an enclosure or housing i5 mounted on the body or cabinet II, and a latch mechanism in an enclosure or housing I? and including a pivotally mounted latch member or strike hook I8 pivotally mounted in the enclosure or housing and a handle I9 for releasing the latch member or strike hook I8.

The latch retaining means or keeper mechanism in the enclosure or housing I6 includes an inverted substantially U-shaped supporting base or bracket 2| rigidly aixed to the exterior of the cabinet by screws or the like, and having at one end a cross pin 22 carried or secured in the opposite sides 23 and 24 of the bracket. A sleeve 25 encompasses this pin and upon this sleeve is swingably or pivotally mounted the upper end or hub 26 of a depending arm 21. The lower end of this arm is provided with a longitudinally extending elongated slot 28 through which loosely projects a cross pin or stud 29 having its opposite ends secured or carried in an end 3| of a pair of spaced members 32 providing a bolt arm. The spaced members of this bolt arm are pivotally mounted or fulcrumed intermediate their length upon a pivot or cross pin 33 having its opposite ends projecting through the members 32 and anchored in the opposite sides 23 and 24 of the bracket 2|.Y In the other end 34 of the bolt arm members 32 is mounted the ends of a cross pin 35 carrying a roller 36 disposed adjacent to but in spaced relation with a roller 31 mounted upon a cross pin or stud 38 secured at its opposite ends in the spaced sides 23 and 24 of the bracket 2|.

Pivotally mounted at its lower end at 39 upon the spaced bolt arm members 32 is a cooking lever or trigger 40 having spaced bifurcations 4I each provided adjacent its upper end with a cam surface 42 and a trigger part 43 adapted to engage a transverse pin or stud 44 also having its ends secured in spaced sides 23 and 24 of the 4 supporting bracket 2|. A spring 45 having one end 45L engaging the fulcrum pin 33 and the other end 45b engaging the base or ilange 46 of the cooking lever or trigger 40, spring-biasing this member toward engagement with the transverse pin or stud 44. A coil spring 41 bearing at its upper end against the cross pin 22 and sleeve 25 and at its lower end against the cross pin 29 carried at the inner end 3| of the bolt arm members 32, spring-biases and depresses this inner or adjacent end of these bolt arm members whereby to pivot these members and elevate the roller end 54 thereof and its roller 36 to cocked position and in properly spaced relation with the stationary roller or latching element 31.

In the housing or casing I1 there is provided a supporting or mounting bracket 48 having a base 49, a front wall 5I provided with an offset and upwardly projecting ilange 52 and a rear Wall 53 having an offset 54 and at its upper end provided with an outwardly and horizontally projecting flange 55. A cross pin or rivet 5S is rigidly mounted in and bridges or spans the walls 52 and 53 at the offsets 52 and 54. Encompassing this pin between these oisets is a sleeve or bushing 51 having stepped enlargements 58 and 59 (see Fig. 5), the intermediate enlargement 58 providing a pivotalmounting about which the latch member or strike hook I8 is fulcrumed. A coil spring 69 encompasses the sleeve 51 with one end 6I engaging a projection 62 on the mounting bracket 48, and the other end 63 engaging the underside of the latch member or strike hook I8 for spring-biasing this latch member or hook toward raised and interlocking position with the stationary roller 31.

The latch member or strike hook I8 is provided with an upstanding projection 64 having" an opening through which projects a rivet or stud 55 (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8). The opposite ends of the rivet project through elongated and longitudinally extending slots 65 provided in an end of a pair of spaced arms 61 of a lever 68, the other end of the lever having a projection or extension 59 disposed at a right angle to the arms 61 and pivotally mounted upon a vertical pin, stud or rivet 'II carried at the inner end of the operating handle I9. This inner end of the handle is bifurcated with the spacedbifurcations 12 receiving the ends of pin or rivet 1| and these bifurcations and handle being fulorumed about a pivot pin, stud or rivet 13 having its opposite ends mounted in the opposite ends of a substantially C-shaped bracket 'i4 rigidly secured to the rear Wall 53 of the supporting base or bracket 48. A coil spring 15 having one of its ends 15E in Contact with the rear wall 53v and its other end 15b engaging the stud or rivet 1I spring-biases the handle I9 inwardly to its normal, operative position. To maintain the lever 68 in its proper operative position, the projecting or extending end 69 thereof and its upstanding hub or collar 16 through which the pin, stud or rivet 1| projects, are disposed between vertically spaced projections 11 on the bifurcated end of the handle 1|.

The hooked or latching end 18 of the latch member or strike I8 is so contoured at 19 (see Figs. 6, '7 and 8) as to ride over the stationary roller 31 and when in locked or latching position as in Fig. 8, the angle of the face 8| of the throat thereof tends to maintain the hook in closed position. The lower or rear face of the hook is contoured or cammed at 82 whereby to engage the pivotally mounted roller 36 and swing this roller and the adjacent ends 34 of the bolt arm members 32 downwardly and away from the roller 31 (see Figs. 6 and 7), and when in the position of Fig. 1 the projecting end 83 of the hook engages the base or ange 46 of the cooking lever or trigger 40 and further inward movement of the latch member or strike i8 causes this cocking lever or trigger to be tripped from locking engagement with the pin or stud 44. This permits the lever or trigger to be raised or moved to the position of Fig. 8 by the spring-biased bolt arm members 32 and the roller 36 forces the hook or hooked end 18 of the latch member or strike upwardly into locking position.

Grasping and pulling outwardly on the handle I9 and away from the door or closure I2,-causes the bifurcated ends 12 of the handle to push nwardly on the spaced arms 61 of the lever 68 and pivot the upstanding projection of the latch member or strike I8 rearwardly or in a counterclockwise direction whereby to lower and disengage the hook 18 from the roller 31. Continued pull on the handle causes the latch member or strike to depress the lower roller 36 and the end 34 of its bolt arm members 32 sufficiently to withdraw the hook 18 from between the rollers 36 and 31. Upon such release the outer end 34 of the bolt arm members 32 is again elevated by the spring 41 and the spring 45 moves the cooking lever or trigger 43 in a clockwise direction to engage the stud or pin 44. The latch member or strike when released is held in proper position by the spring 66 to be ready to be forced into the space between the rollers 36 and 31 maintained in proper cocking position by the cooking lever or trigger 40 when engaging the stud or pin 44.

To permit ready adjustment with respect to the adjacent edge of the cabinet of the latch retaining assembly or keeper mechanism in the enclo.. sure or housing I6 and its supporting base or bracket 2| with respect to the adjacent edge of the cabinet Il, the rear wall 24 of the base 2| is provided with elongated slots 84 and is secured to the cabinet by suitable securing means such as screws, bolts or the like 85, and an access opening 86 is provided in the front wall 23 of the base. This permits lateral shifting of the base or bracket and the contained assembly. The enclosure or housing i6 providing a cover or closure for the keeper assembly is removably mounted on the supporting base or bracket 2| to permit ready access to the operating parts. The supporting or mounting bracket 48 for the latch member or strike hook I8 and the handle assembly is secured to the door or closure I2 by screws, bolts or the like 86, the enclosure or housing l1 providing a removable closure therefor and permitting ready access thereto.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawings, it will be readily apparent that the present invention comprehends a novel selfcontained and pre-set lock or latch mechanism requiring no effort on the `part of the party mounting it upon the cabinet and door to secure or maintain the proper setting between the latch member or strike unit carried by the door or closure, and the keeper unit with its cooking mechanism carried by the cabinet and which is pre-set and maintained in cocked position ready for instant operation. The setting of the mechanism is effected in the initial assembly as received from the factory and all that is required of the party installing the two self-contained units is to visually align these units for appearance, one on the cabinet and one on the door.

Although the unit assemblies are shown as mounted at the exterior of the cabinet and door, it will be appreciated that the novel assemblyfmay be located in the connes of the cabinet and door, and because of their pre-set construction will require no adjustment or attention.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A fastening device for a cabinet and its closure provided with a keeper mechanism adapted to be engaged by a latch mechanisml said keeper mechanism comprising a support, a stationary keeper element mounted on the support, a bolt arm pivotally mounted intermediate its -ends on the support, spring-biasing means vat one end of said bolt arm for lowering said end about the pivotal mounting and elevating the other end thereof, a member on said other end of the bolt arm adapted to be engaged by the latch mechanism when in closing position, a projection on said support and a cooking lever carried by the bolt arm and adapted to interlock with said projection and maintain said bolt arm and its member in spaced cooking relation with said keeper element, whereby in closing the latch mechanism enters the space between the keeper element and said member on the bolt arm and successively depresses said member, disengages the cooking lever from its locking engagement with the projection and said member moves the latch mechanism into latching engagement with the keeper element.

2. A fastening device for a cabinet and its closure provided with a keeper mechanism adapted to be engaged by a latch member, said keeper mechanism comprising a support, a stationary keeper element mounted on the support and adapted to receive the latch member for latching engagement, an arm pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon the support and provided with a roller adjacent one end adapted toI engage the underside of the latch member, means for spring-biasing said arm for forcing said roller into elevated position where it is engaged by the latch member when said latch member is moved toward closed position, and means for releasably holding said arm and roller in predetermined spaced relation with the stationary keeper element.

3. A fastening device for a closure of a cabinet provided with a keeper mechanism adapted to be engaged by a latch member pivotally mounted on the closure, said keeper mechanism comprising a support, a keeper element secured upon the support and adapted to be engaged by the latch member when the closure is moved to closed position, an arm pivotal-ly mounted on the support and carrying a part adapted to engage the latch member, means for spring-biasing the arm to cause said part to engage and move the latch member toward locking engagement with the keeper element, and cooking means carried by the arm and support for holding the arm and latch member engaging part in predetermined cooking position when the closure is opened and the latch member is withdrawn from the keeper mechanism.

4. A fastening device for a cabinet provided with a keeper mechanism adapted to be engaged by a latch member, said keeper mechanism comprising a unit assembly including a supporting bracket mounted upon the cabinet, a roller mounted on the bracket for locking engagement with the latch member, a bolt arm pivotal-1y mounted intermediate its ends on the brackety a roller carried at one end of the arm in spaced relation with the first mentioned roller, means for spring-biasing the other end of the arm for moving its roller toward the :rst mentioned roller, and means for releasably ho-lding said arm and its roller in predetermined spaced relation with the roller mounted on the bracket for receiving the latch member therebetween whenever the closure is in open position, and maintaining such spaced relation until the latch member enters such space, depresses the bolt arm and its roller and releases said holding means to permit the bolt arm and its roller to force the latch member into locking engagement with the other roller.

5. A fastening device for a'cabinet and a pivvotally mounted door with a keeper mechanism adapted to be engaged by the latching end of a latch member, said keeper mechanism comprising a housing on the cabinet, a latch keeper for latching engagement with the latch member and secured in the housing on the cabinet against lateral movement, a pivotally mounted arm having a part adapted to be engaged by the latch member as the door is moved toward closed position, tension means for spring-biasing the part on said arm toward the latch keeper, and a pivotally mounted lever adapted to releasably hold said part in predetermined spaced relation with the latch keeper, and in the path of said latch member, whereby as the door is moved toward closed position1 the latch member enters the housing on the cabinet between the latch keeper and said part on said arm, and successively depresses said part and arm and releases the lever to permit said part to tensionally engage and force the latching end of the latch member into latching position.

6. A fastening device for a cabinet and its hinged closure provided with a keeper mechanism adapted to be engaged by a latch member pivotally mounted on the closure, said keeper mechanism comprising a completely assembled unit including a housing mounted upon the cabinet and having a pair of rollers one fixed and the other movable relative thereto, a spring-actuated and pivotally mounted arm carrying the movable roller, means for releasably retaining the arm and its roller in predetermined spaced and cocking relation with said xed roller whenever the closure is opened, and means on the latch member for releasing said retaining means as it enters the space between said rollers when the closure is moved toward closed position, whereupon the latch member is moved into engagement with the xed roller.

7. A fastening device for the closure of a cabinet provided with a keeper mechanism adapted to be engaged by a latch member pivotally mounted on the closure, said keeper mechanism comprising a completely assembled unit mounted on the cabinet and including a support secured to the cabinet, a pair of spaced members one of which is secured to the support for latching engagement with the latch member, means for pivotally and tensionally mounting the other member in a predetermined cooking position and spaced relation with the xed member whenever the closure is opened and the latch member is withdrawn, and releasable tri-pping means for holding the pivotally and tensionally mounted member in position to be engaged and tripped by the latch member, whereby when the closure is moved toward closed position the latch member engages said pivotally and tensionally mounted member, releases the tripping means and said latch member is forced into latching engagement with the xed member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,898,450 Hutton Feb. 21, 1933 2,113,747 Roedding et al Apr. 12, 1938 2,228,674 Raymond Jan. 14, 1941 2,256,447 Burke Sept. 16, 1941 2,359,150 Peglow Sept. 26, 1944 2,558,233 Burke June 26, 1951 2,561,201 Hogg July 17, 1951 

